Featured species

The male of this huge bird is possibly the heaviest extant bird capable of flight. An adult male is normally 1.1 meters (3.7 feet) long with a 2.4 meter (7.9 foot) wingspan and an average weight of 13.5 kg (30 lb). The female is 30% smaller and half the weight, averaging 6.5 kg (14.3 lb).

The Great bustards breed in March, and a single male may mate with up to 5 females. This species is omnivorous, taking seeds, insects and other small creatures, including frogs and beetles. Great bustards typically live for around 10 years, but some have been known to live up to 15 years or more.

This bird's habitat is open grassland, although it can be found on undisturbed cultivation. It has a stately slow walk, and tends to run when disturbed rather than fly. It is gregarious, especially in winter.

WWF is urging tourism investors to carefully plan their future developments in the Mediterranean. Next May in Rome, WWF will invite investors such as banks, hotel companies, and tour-operators to assess the ecological sustainability of their tourism development projects and build rules for sustainable investments. A risk map of vulnerable environments in relation to tourism development will be presented. The aim is to agree on guidelines for sustainable tourism in ecologically vulnerable areas.
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